# NTSB ERA25LA161: Aeronca 7AC, N84065, Martinsville, VA, April 1, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 1, 2025, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Martinsville, VA · On Airport - Coordinates: 36.63585, -80.029945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6358&lon=-80.0299&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199945 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199945/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199945 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA161 ## Probable cause The pilot inadvertently turned off the fuel selector valve on takeoff which resulted in a loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Aeronca 7AC, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2110102), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to take off when his handheld radio fell from its holder and came to rest under a control cable. The pilot said that once the climb attitude was established, he reached down and picked up the radio and inadvertently turned off the fuel selector valve. Less than a minute later, the engine lost power. The pilot said he ran the emergency checklist and checked that the fuel was “on”, but he was too low to re-start the engine. The pilot made a forced landing north of the runway on airport property resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84065](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84065-2026-05-16), registration cancelled 2026-05-16, S/N 7AC-2752 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-2752 - Airframe hours: 7400 - Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 2024, 14 hours before - Destination: FVX, Farmville, VA - Airport: MTV, Blue Ridge, runway 13/31, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2024; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 5,750 total, 600 in this make and model, 5,400 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KMTV, 1 nm away - METAR: KMTV 011335Z AUTO 33012G16KT 10SM CLR 09/00 A3006 RMK AO2 T00910001 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250401003819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250401003819A), Apr 1, 2025: Aeronca 7AC, Martinsville, VA, Substantial damage. At approximately 500 AGL on climb out the engine suddenly stopped. The pilot stated that he dropped his hand-held radio and accidentally turned off the fuel… ## Other investigations on N84065 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI67D0065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67D0065), Jun 29, 1966: Aeronca 7AC (N84065), Weathersfield, IL, substantial damage ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199945. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 797 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18952995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB record of memo - email excerpt between NTSB and pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18952775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Memo%20-%20Email%20Excerpt%20between%20Pilot%20and%20NTSB-Rel.pdf - FAA memo for record - pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19387350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Memo%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 839 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18953210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.